Feng Shui In The Kitchen

In Feng Shui, the kitchen represents nourishment and prosperity; after all, it’s human nature to associate food and nutrition with nurturing and sustenance. Believers in Feng Shui say that how you design and decorate the kitchen can influence your prosperity and health.

Feng Shui is a complex practice with many schools and practitioners. The practice of Feng Sui will therefore vary from practitioner to practitioner and between individuals. However, there are basic priciples that do not change and which apply in all situations. In this article, we will consider the kitchen particularly.

Positioning The Kitchen

Of course most of us do not have the luxury of designing a new house and placing the kitchen in the ideal position. If this is the case in your house, don’t worry, there are certain remedies that can take care of this.

Ideally the kitchen will be in the back of the house, at least behind centerline. In any case, it’s better if you don’t see the kitchen immediately upon entering the house as this can portend digestive, nutritional, and eating problems. Having the kitchen at the entry point can also mean that guests will come over and eat and then leave immediately, and such a placement can also encourage the inhabitants to eat all the time.

If your kitchen is in the front of the house, try hanging sheer or beaded curtains over the kitchen door. Or, install louvered doors. Another idea is to provide something eye-catching across a hall or in a vestibule nearby. That way, attention is diverted from the busy kitchen.

Kitchen Layout

In Feng Shui It’s very important for the cook to be in a “commanding position" when at the stove. The cook should be able to clearly see the doorway without turning away from the stove. Renovating a kitchen so this is achieved can be particularly challenging. Many modern kitchens have the stove facing the wall. Some Feng Shui consultants recommend an easy solution: hang something reflective, such as a mirror or glass splashback behind the hob. The reflective surface can be any size, but the bigger it is, the more powerful the correction will be.

For a more dramatic solution, consider installing a cooking island. Placing the stove in a central island allows the cook to see the entire room, including the doorway. Beyond the Feng Shui benefits, a cooking island is practical. The wider your view, the more you’ll be able to comfortably talk with dinner guests or keep an eye on the kids as you prepare the meal.

Cooking islands have become a popular trend in kitchen design. Many people want their kitchens to flow into an open space that includes a living and dining area. Designing a kitchen around a cooking island will help keep the cook involved in whatever is happening in that space, whether it’s entertaining before-dinner conversation or hearing about a child's English homework.

Feng Shui-inspired kitchen design dovetails with the contemporary trend toward group cooking. Instead of isolating the cook in an enclosed area, families and guests often gather in and around the cooking space and participate in the meal preparation. Also, busy working couples use dinner preparation as an important time to catch up and unwind together.

More Feng Shui

Below area few Feng Shui tips that we've compiled to make your home inviting and more relaxing.

CandlesCandles represent fire. They give off a pleasant light, attracting others with their energy. People are naturally drawn to fire, which provides light and warmth and infuse a space with a sense of comfort, safety and good health.

SaltSalt represents balance and stability. When placed in a small metal or ceramic bowl near your main entrance, salt absorbs the negative energy in a dwelling and transforms it to create a stable atmosphere. Salt should be changed every three weeks.

A Kitchen Should Have

Lots of fresh air and airflow.

A plant to purify the air

Fire (stove) placed in the east or the south

Water (sink, dishwasher) placed in the west or the north

A large, stable working area

Yellow walls to stimulate the stomach and intestines

Terracotta flooring

A window over the sink

AvoidClutter

Clutter causes stagnation in a room bringing down it's energy levels. The heart of the home should be clear and free flowing, just like the heart of your body. Blockage of the blood vessels of the heart with plaques and debris causes it to function less effectively and the body loses energy and stagnates. This is a great analogy for your kitchen. The place we look to for sustenance, where our life-giving food is prepared, should be free of debris, fresh and clean; a suitable environment for our food, loved ones and friends.

Benchtops should be clear of any appliances, even the toaster. Always have a place to store these things when they are not in use.